Cognitive Neuroscience of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disorders that affect communication, social interaction, and behavior. Relatively little is known about the relationship between genetics and behavior among these individuals and their close relatives. Researchers are interested in using interviews and rating scales to better understand these issues, as well as collecting brain scan data and genetic samples for testing and comparison.

By comparing test results and genetic samples from healthy volunteers, people with ASD, and parents (or caregivers or legal guardians) of the first two groups, researchers hope to better understand the neuroscience of ASD.

Objectives:

To learn more about the brain in healthy people and in people with autism spectrum disorders.

To study genes that might be involved in autism spectrum disorders by collecting DNA samples from participants.

Eligibility:

The following groups of participants will be eligible for the study:

Individuals between 5 and 89 years of age who have autism spectrum disorders.

Healthy volunteers between 5 and 89 years of age.

Cognitively impaired children between 5 and 17 years of age.

Parents/caregivers/legal guardians of individuals in the above three groups.

Design:

Participants will visit the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center for research tests, which will be administered over multiple visits. Researchers will determine the specific tests to be administered based on the medical history of the study participant.

Study Population: Children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), controls (i.e., typically developing children, adolescents, and adults and those with mild to moderate mental retardation), as well as caregivers/legal guardians/parents of these individuals.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

5 Years to 89 Years (Child, Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects will include:

males and females.

5-89 years of age.

A minimum IQ of 70 if age 18 or older.

A minimum IQ of 50 if 5-17 years old.

Inclusion criteria for cognitively impaired children without ASD, Subjects will include:

a known genetic disorder (e.g., Fragile X or Down syndrome) that would be expected to significantly impact findings from cognitive testing and/or neuroimaging.

Furthermore, subjects will be excluded from MRI/MEG studies, if they have:

any exclusion from MRI scanning including: the presence of metal in their body, having a pacemaker, and/or females who are pregnant.

Exclusion criteria for cognitively impaired children:

An IQ of less than 50

Had severely premature birth or birth trauma,

Typically developing but takes psychiatric medication.

Healthy volunteers, except for parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, parents of healthy volunteers, and parents of children with cognitive impairments, will also be excluded if they have:

1. a current or past history of axis I psychiatric conditions or any current usage of psychiatric medication.

Savants have less restrictive exclusionary criteria because: 1) they are a very rare group, thus we don t want to limit recruitment further and 2) we can examine common and unique cognitive mechanisms across savants, a question of keen interest, regardless of co-morbidities. Those with tumors or other neuroimaging-relevant contraindications will be excluded from fMRI/MEG procedures.